MainCast RETURN John Le Mesurier (1912 - 1983) - Sergeant Wilson It seems you cannot watch any Ealing Comedy of the (late) 50s and 60s without seeing the dour face of John Le Mesurier. In fact between the years 1952 and 1977 he managed to play in at least one film for every year, 1962 being the most prolific year with no less than 5 to his credit! Bury St Edmunds was home to the young Le Mesurier, where he developed a love of the countryside, horses, pubs, village cricket and village characters. His father was a successful lawyer in the town. John was fascinated by the theatre, but it was not until he was 21, with his parents full blessing that he decided to become an actor, knowing full well what hard and uncertain work it was. After attending the Fay Compton School of Dramatic Art, John's first engagement in repertory was at the Palladium Theatre, Edinburgh, which started his personal 'tour of duties' until war came along in 1939.

At the start of the war John became an Air Raid Warden in Chelsea before being called up to the Army. As a commissioned officer he spent much of this time in India. It was after the war that John set his sights on the film industry, appearing in his first film 'Escape from Broadmoor' in 1948, it was the start of a successful career in this medium. John was surprised when he read the pilot episode of 'Dad's Army' that he was not cast as the officer, as he usually was. It came to pass that he was originally thought of to play the captain, and Arthur Lowe the sergeant, but an inspired change of roles gave the programme some of its funniest elements, as the gallant Captain played the game of oneupmanship with his socially superior sergeant. His character was not unlike his real self, and the writers began to write around the actor after a time anyway. During one of the intervals between series, John took up the role of Kim Philby the defector, in the television play 'Traitor'. It was a very demanding part, definitely not a comedy. It was this role which led to John being awarded a BAFTA for best actor in 1971.

John very nearly missed the last series due to illness, but he was determined to be there. You will notice that his appearance during this last series was more drawn than ever. He enjoyed making the series even though it was a bit of a strain. Before his death he managed to tour South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur in various plays, as well as continuing in the West End. He had managed a credible fifty years as an actor. RETURN Clive Dunn (1920 - 2012) - Lance Corporal Jones Clive started his acting career by appearing as an extra in a Will Hay film 'Boys Will Be Boys', and after attending stage school, tried his luck firstly in seasonal theatre work, then commercial repertory, stage managing and playing small parts. This career was interrupted by the Second World War, which proved to be a traumatic time for him, as he was taken prisoner by the Germans whilst in Greece. After, he continued where he had left off, and began to specialise in character acting, particularly old men. a talent which would lend itself to the small screen which had begun to take off a few years after.

Clive also had a hit single with the song 'Grandad', and on the strength of this recorded a whole album of songs. Clive was the only member of the Dad's Army cast that was required to look older, however this came in useful when he was required to perform one stunt or another! After Dad's Army had finished, Clive decided to move to Portugal and open a restaurant, where he remains to this day. Occasionally he returned to our screens as a cameo L/Cpl Jones, only with less make-up! Clive passed away on 6 November 2012 in Portugal (where he lived for many years) following a minor operation. RETURN John Laurie (1897 - 1980) - Private Frazer John was not destined for a career in the theatre. He started his career in architecture, until World War One took him away. He never expected to come out of it alive, and it was only when he had been invalided out that he became a sergeant-of-arms at the Tower of London. It was 1919 when John decided to become an actor in the theatre as a result of his passion for Shakespeare.

He managed to play all the great Shakespearean roles at the Old Vic in London, before eventually being lured into films. A very young John Laurie appears in the famous Hitchcock thriller 'The Thirty Nine Steps' with Robert Donat. His career had taken off, and John was to appear in many films before his eventual call up to join the Dad's Army team, at a time when he was thinking about retiring! Considering his age at the time, John showed considerable vigour through out the series, others seemed to age while John remained the same, waiting for the others to catch up. He almost invented his catchphrase "we're doomed!", after the writers had heard him complaining about some aspect of a show being doomed to failure. RETURN James Beck (1929 - 1973) - Joe Walker James, or Jimmy, left home at the age of seventeen and decided to go into the theatre. He had been interested in it since he was a small boy, keeping a scrap-book of stage and screen stars. One of his favourites was the comedian Sid Field, and certain similarities between the two have been drawn up. Jimmy's acting career then went on hold while he completed his national service as a PT instructor.

Once completed, he then set about looking for work in the theatre. After working with several repertory companies, he eventually became the leading man at the York Theatre, where he had begun to be noticed. In a move to improve and stretch himself, Jimmy came to London where there were greater opportunities. It was Jimmy Perry who suggested James Beck for the part of Walker, he had the right twinkle of mischief in his eyes for the cockney spiv that would eventually win the public's affection. During the early stages of Dad's Army, Jimmy was still playing at theatres, and by 1972, he had begun to get offers for other television programmes on the strength of his performance as Walker. Some of the work he did at this time included starring in his own series for London Weekend Television called 'Romany Jones' and a couple of comedy hours with Ronnie Fraser. An exciting project was planned by the BBC involving the re-recording of several Tony Hancock scripts. Arthur Lowe was to play Hancock, and Jimmy the Sid James character. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were updating the scripts to accommodate the two actors styles, but this was not to be.

Jimmy died on the 6th August 1973 from a perforated ulcer, the day after he had been recording some BBC radio episodes of Dad's Army. His character did not appear again in the television series (although he was mentioned), but Graham Stark and Larry Martyn portrayed him for the benefit of the radio episodes. RETURN Arnold Ridley (1896 - 1984) - Private Godfrey In the same way that John Laurie could have been an architect, so Arnold Ridley could have become a school teacher. Only Arnold decided to join the theatre in 1914, for a short period before he was taken to fight for his country. Unfortunately, Arnold was invalided out in 1917, following an injury to the head sustained from a German soldier's rifle butt. In the early twenties, Arnold was not sure if he would act again, and put his efforts into writing. The result of which was the famous story 'The Ghost Train', which was, at the time, a daring piece for a stage play. So began Arnold's career as a writer.

1939, and as Arnold had enlisted to the Army he was sent abroad only to return in 1940 after being shell shocked during the evacuation of France. He decided, after being invalided out of the army, to join ENSA (Entertainment Nation Service Association), who at the time were sending companies all around Britain. It was not until after the war that Arnold was given the opportunity to direct one of his own plays. This led to Arnold deciding to concentrate on an acting career. During the Sixties and Seventies, Arnold featured in the popular radio series The Archers, and appeared several times in Coronation Street and Crossroads, before taking up with the Dad's Army team. In 1982, Arnold was awarded the OBE in the new years honours list, by which time he was suffering from appalling health which caused his death in 1984, he was 88 years old. RETURN Ian Lavender (1946) - Private Pike The youngest member of the cast, Ian was to play what is now widely known as Jimmy Perry's part in the Home Guard, although this was not revealed to him until the series had been established.

Ian went straight from school to the Bristol Old Vic Drama School, a well known establishment, having obtained a grant from the City of Birmingham. His acting ability was quickly noticed and once he had finished at Bristol, acting jobs were offered his way. His first television role was the lead in a play called 'Flowers at my Feet'. Shortly after this he was cast as Private Pike in Dad's Army. Ian would spend his formative years in the company of experienced and respected actors, whose talent, and knowledge must have rubbed off on him in some way. John Laurie and he got on particularly well, and it was a race to see who completed the Times crossword first at rehearsals! Since Dad's Army, Ian has spent most of his career in the theatre, one of the most noticeable parts being in 'The Merchant of Venice' alongside Dustin Hoffman. He could be seen popping up in the occasional sitcom, but up to this moment, it was Dad's Army that he was most famous for, although a few years ago he had a regular part in the popular BBC soap 'Eastenders' playing alongside Wendy Richard (Walker's girlfriend) and John Bardon (who played Walker in the Stage Show version of DA).

Ian also had some recent West End success in the musical 'Sister Act'. John Le Mesurier | Dad's Army Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit John Le Mesurier (Born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 1912 – 15 November 1983) was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation comedy Dad's Army (1968–77). A self-confessed "jobbing actor", Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films across a range of genres, normally in smaller supporting parts. Le Mesurier became interested in the stage as a young adult and enrolled at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art in 1933. From there he took a position in repertory theatre and made his stage debut in September 1934 at the Palladium Theatre in Edinburgh in the J. B. Priestley play Dangerous Corner. He later accepted an offer to work with Alec Guinness in a John Gielgud production of Hamlet.

He first appeared on television in 1938 as Seigneur de Miolans in the BBC broadcast of The Marvellous History of St Bernard. During the Second World War Le Mesurier was posted to British India, as a captain with the Royal Tank Regiment. He returned to acting and made his film debut in 1948, starring in the second feature comedy short Death in the Hand, opposite Esme Percy and Ernest Jay. He undertook a number of roles on television in 1951 including Educating Archie alongside Tony Hancock. Le Mesurier had a prolific film career, appearing mostly in comedies, usually in roles portraying figures of authority such as army officers, policemen and judges. As well as Hancock's Half Hour, Le Mesurier appeared in Hancock's two principal films, The Rebel and The Punch and Judy Man. In 1971 Le Mesurier received his only award: a British Academy of Film and Television Arts "Best Television Actor" award for his lead performance in Dennis Potter's television play Traitor; it was one of the few lead roles he played during the course of his career.

He took a relaxed approach to acting and felt that his parts were those of "a decent chap all at sea in a chaotic world not of his own making". Le Mesurier was married three times, most notably to the actress Hattie Jacques. A heavy drinker of alcohol for most of his life, Le Mesurier died in 1983, aged 71, from a stomach haemorrhage, brought about by a complication of cirrhosis of the liver. After his death, critics reflected that, for an actor who normally took minor roles, the viewing public were "enormously fond of him". Dad's Army (Series) - TV Tropes Dad's Army You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share "Who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler? If you think we're on the run. We are the boys who will stop your little game, We are the boys who will make you think again. Cos, who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler? If you think old England's done." Permission to describe Dad's Army here, sir? Permission granted.

Dad's Army was an ensemble sitcom on The BBC about the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon in World War II, a band of mostly elderly volunteers who would have been their (fictional) town's first line of defence, had the Germans invaded (Walmington-on-Sea and Eastgate (their rival town) are mirrored in the real Northern Kent seaside towns of Birchington-on-Sea and Westgate). The show aired for nine years (1968-77), though the war had only lasted six. While waiting for the invasion, the platoon did its best to prepare, resulting in many hilarious mishaps . They occasionally did some military work, such as guarding downed German pilots, and took part in training exercises with the regular army, where they were often surprisingly successful. They also had a vigorous rivalry with the neighbouring platoon and with the Chief Air Raid Warden, who sometimes tried to sabotage the platoon. Almost every character involved had a catchphrase that most British people can still repeat with very little memory-searching. The characters included: Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) - pompous bank manager, no combat experience, appointed himself captain. Pronounced "Mannering".

Catchphrases: "Stupid boy" (directed at Pike), "Good thinking, Wilson. I was wondering who'd be the first to spot that " (whenever Wilson points out what he's doing wrong), and "I think you're getting into the realms of fantasy Jones" (at the end of one of Jones' rambling monologues). Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier) - diffident deputy bank manager, Captain in the Royal Artillery during World War I, of a higher social class than his superior as well as more experienced - alternatively verging on being a Cloud Cuckoo Lander at times. Was strongly implied to be having an affair with Pike's mother, with a suggestion that he might actually be the boy's father. (One episode revealed that he already had a daughter by his estranged wife.) Catchphrase: "Are you sure that's wise?" (usually in response to the Zany Scheme of the week) as well as "How absolutely lovely!" when responding to something that Mainwaring would prefer to treat as Serious Business .

Lance-Corporal Jack Jones (Clive Dunn) - butcher and 30 year veteran of the British Army, having served in the Sudan and WWI, longwinded but eager for action. Four catchphrases: "Don't panic" (while panicking), "Permission to speak, sir?", "They don't like it up 'em" (talking about the African tribesmen ("fuzzy-wuzzies") he fought in his youth and flourishing a bayonet ), and "Sir, I should like to volunteer to be the one to... " (whenever Mainwaring looks for a volunteer for something). Private Frank Pike (Ian Lavender) - mollycoddled teenager . Was often seen wearing a scarf. Always addresses Wilson as "Uncle Arthur", though Pike may in fact be Wilson's (illegitimate) son. Catchphrase: "Uncle Arthur?" Private James Frazer (John Laurie) - Scottish undertaker, former Royal Navy cook, very gloomy.

Catchphrase: "We're doomed!" (words can't quite describe his delivery, but it would not look out of place on the set of a Hammer Horror film, on a villager warning the hero not to go up to the castle.) Private Charles Godfrey (Arnold Ridley) - Even older than the rest of the platoon, excessively polite and friendly and a butt of constant humour relating to his weak bladder. Catchphrase: "Might I be excused ..." (Gesturing to the bathroom, or a convenient hedge) Private Joe Walker (James Beck) - good-natured spiv who evaded conscription on dubious grounds. (Allergic to corned beef. Allegedly...) Usually to be found trying to sell people things. Occasionally came good by happening to have just the item the platoon needs - for a price, of course. The actor died during the course of the series and was replaced by... Private Cheeseman (Talfryn Thomas) - Welshman with a camera, big teeth and glasses, introduced only in later seasons.

(First appeared as a one-off press photographer character the year before he became a regular.) Almost no-one remembers him, he didn't stay long, and his departure gave a small boost to... Private Sponge (Colin Bean) - farmer, generic guy, used when one of the main cast needed a supporting character to talk to. Later put in charge of the second half of the platoon, and given slightly more plot relevance. ARP Warden William Hodges (Bill Pertwee) - a grocer, Mainwaring's would-be nemesis . Catchphrases: "Now look 'ere, Napoleon ...", "Ruddy 'ooligans! and "Put that light out! PUT THAT BLOODY LIGHT OUT!" Maurice Yeatman, the Verger (Edward Sinclair) - Hodges' fawning lackey (He's exactly the same with the Vicar too) The Rev. Timothy Farthing (Frank Williams) - The Vicar Mrs Pike (Janet Davies) - Pike's neurotic, overprotective mother who often interrupts him in the middle of platoon activity. Suspiciously close "friend" of Wilson.

Mrs Fox (Pamela Cundell) - overbearing and flirty local woman, often causes trouble when the platoon is involved in arranging public events. Later marries Jones at the end of the series. Captain Square (Geoffrey Lumsden) - leader of the Eastgate platoon and occasional rival to Mainwaring. Catchphrase: "You blithering IDIOT!" Much humour was derived from Mainwaring's resentment of Wilson. Even though Mainwaring was in charge, both at work and in the Home Guard, Wilson was from a much higher social stratum and eventually inherited a title. His effortless charm and dignity utterly infuriated Mainwaring, the archetypal " pompous little man ". The interplay between the two characters was always beautifully worked and the series is often held up as an example of near-perfect character comedy, enhanced by the acting talents of Arthur Lowe (Mainwaring) and John Le Mesurier (Wilson).

Lowe has merely to bristle his moustache to render the audience helpless with laughter; Le Mesurier was hired because (in the words of a member of the production team) "He suffers so beautifully." The show, whilst at all times remaining funny, also had more serious plots, like the way the platoon react when they find out that Private Godfrey was a conscientious objector in World War I . The show did not have an arc, but it did have continuity. During the first season, the platoon's equipment gradually improved as the regular army provided them with surplus gear. Over the series, Jones had a romance which culminated with a marriage in the final episode. Came fourth in Britain's Best Sitcom . A feature film remake was released in February 2016 starring Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring and Bill Nighy as Sgt. Wilson. We're Doomed, a Docudrama about the behind-the-scenes making of the show, aired in December 2015. This show provides examples of: Abhorrent Admirer : Mrs Fox occasionally fills this role, although Jones didn't seem to mind her too much ...

AB Negative : In one episode, Pike is finally called up to join the Royal Air Force. During a blood donation drive, he finds out that he has a very rare blood type, and the RAF later rejects him as they would not be able to give him a blood transfusion should he need one. Pike doesn't tell the rest of the platoon this until after they've held an expensive fish and chip supper to say goodbye. Anti-Climax : Frazer's story about the "old empty barn" among others. Armed Farces Ascended Extra : The previously unnamed Private Desmond, when he joins the main characters on a mission in the episode "Sons of the Sea." It's never explained why they didn't use Sponge, who by this stage was getting more lines and character focus. Ash Face : Happens to Mainwaring when he attempts to shut off the power to the lighthouse, but ends up blacking out the entire pier, in "Put That Light Out!". Bad Omen Anecdote : The dour Scot Frazer is fond of doing this, much to Mainwaring's exasperation.

Banana in the Tailpipe : In the first episode, while having a discussion of how to take on a tank with improvised weapons, Jones suggests plugging the exhaust with spuds (potatoes). Mainwaring points out that it wouldn't work because tanks have long, thin exhaust pipes. Jones asks why they can't use long, thin spuds. Baseball Episode : Well, Cricket episode, Home Guard vs. ARP Wardens. Bawdy Song : Godfrey's song about a monk, although we're only ''told'' he sang it, not what it was about. The cast's reactions are more than enough for us to guess. Beware the Nice Ones : Sergeant Wilson. In the last episode it was even revealed that he had been an artillery captain during the First World War. Additionally, Private Godfrey, who was revealed as having been a conscientious objector during the First World War, but had served as an unarmed stretcher bearer, rescuing injured soldiers during the Battle of the Somme, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Big Damn Movie : The Movie has this atmosphere to it, even though it's adapted from the early episodes. Blind Without 'Em : Corporal Jones.

He accidentally signs the desk when he enlists in the Home Guard. Borrowed Catchphrase : In one episode, an army officer demands to know why Mainwairing believes a stranded German pilot will give himself up any minute. Mainwairing, in no mood to explain that the reservoir he landed in is being filled and the German will be under water in ten minutes simply replies that "It seems that they really don't like it up 'em." Near the beginning of the 2016 film, we see Hitler borrow the lines from the title song. Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Churchill? Also in the 2016 film, Mainwaring borrows Jones's "Don't panic, don't panic" when breaking the news that a Nazi spy is in Walmington. Breaking the Fourth Wall : The cast turning to the camera and toasting the real Home Guard at the end of the final episode. Break Out the Museum Piece : In an early episode the platoon go to the museum with the intention of taking weaponry, but do not succeed in finding anything usable. The museum's caretaker who is trying to stop them, however, makes good use of the pieces inside to stop them entering.

Butt Monkey : If anyone is going to be getting soaked to the skin, clumsily tripping over themselves or otherwise being made to look like an idiot, it's Private Pike. This was something of a justified / invoked trope, since the actor was one of the younger members of the cast and thus one of the few who was actually capable of doing such physical comedy without potentially risking serious injury or illness. Catch Phrase : Aside from their individual catchphrases, a character tended to say, "There is a war on, you know" in almost every episode. Character Outlives Actor : Walker. When actor James Beck was taken into hospital, Walker got a Written-In Absence , leaving a note in his place on patrol to explain that he has gone to conduct "business" in London. Beck later died and Walker was never heard of again - at least on television, When the show was remade for radio other actors continued the role after Beck's death, and when the show got a radio sequel years after the end of its run, Walker was mentioned as alive and having returned to Walmington-on-Sea. He's also seen in the scene set in 1968 featuring several of the characters that opens the very first episode.

Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys : Discussed by Mainwaring, who does not rate the French ("no use after lunch - all that wine and garlic is very debilitating"), and Wilson, who, being an actual veteran of WWI, does. Chekhov's Gun : In the episode "Battle of the Giants", Walker mentions having made flags for both their platoon and the Eastgate platoon. They will be used at the end of a contest, in short form, whoever flies their flag first, wins. Although just a passing remark, it turns out later that Walker made both flags say "Walmington-on-Sea" so they would win whoever flew the flag first. In the 2016 movie, the mention by Walker's girlfriend that Rose Winters's dress is Chanel. This leads the men to the discovery that she is the Nazi agent they're looking for - Cissy and Dolly Godfrey contacted the Chanel company, who confirmed that Rose is a regular customer from Berlin. Child Soldiers : Jones was one, joining the British Army as a drummer boy in 1884. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome : Miss King vanishes without a trace after series one.

Also happens to Private Cheeseman ; Ascended Extra Private Desmond, who had a role in one episode and was never heard from again; and Private Bracewell, a character who appears only in the first episode. Word of God has it that Bracewell was intended to be a recurring character but was cut because the producers felt his character was too much like Godfrey's. Classically Trained Extra : John Laurie as Private Frazer. The actor was somewhat bitter about being best remembered for this role rather than his theatrical work. According to show writer Jimmy Perry, most of the background platoon members were played by retired actors or writers rather than the usual extras. Deadpan Snarker : Wilson. Downer Ending : 'Mum's Army' — Mainwaring falls in love, but the woman leaves him rather than destroy his life with a scandal. Draft Dodging : Frank Pike doesn't want to evade military service, but his medical test reveals a rare blood group. He's excused from active service on the grounds that they'd have nothing to transfuse him with in the event of injury. So he stays in the Home Guard instead - except that he doesn't admit to this until after the platoon has held a fish-and-chip supper in his honour.

A now Missing Episode from series two was based around Walker's attempts to evade the draft. He fails, and has to join the army - but is soon discharged when he turns out to be allergic to corned beef, the only rations available. Drill Sergeant Nasty : A few one-off characters fit this trope. Drill Sgt. Gregory in "Room at the Bottom" and Captain Ramsey in "We Know Our Onions" are excellent examples. Dropped After the Pilot : The pilot episode had a character called Private Bracewell who never appeared again. Word of God says it was decided that he was too similar to Private Godfrey and dropped. Early Installment Weirdness : Every episode of Series 1 begins with faked newsreel footage, combining real-life World War II footage with material containing the show's actors. This was dropped starting with Series 2. For some bizarre reason the first episode has a laugh track over the title sequence, which ends up rendering the series' theme tune completely indecipherable. Fortunately, this was never done again.

The black-and-white episodes have a much more crudely animated title sequence, very little location filming, and lack the ending montage that the colour episodes had (instead featuring the actors superimposed over a still image, with the technical credits rolling over a black background). Edible Ammunition : In "We Know Our Onions", the platoon, having failed to retrieve the cache of rubber ammunition they were supposed to use, win an initiative test by firing onions at their attackers. Establishing Character Moment : Almost every episode started with Mainwaring inspecting the troops, giving first time viewers a quick run down of the main cast Frazer: We're dooooomed! Facepalm : Sergeant Wilson, frequently. Forgotten Framing Device : The first episode started in the 1960s with Captain Mainwaring addressing a Rotary Club dinner and reminiscing about his time in the Home Guard, before flashing back to the story of the founding of the platoon. This was never referred to again in the remainder of the series. Frozen in Time : The series started in 1940, went through 1941, and then at a point roughly in the middle decided to stay somewhere in 1942.

Justified, in that after 1942 it became increasingly clear that the Germans weren't going to win, Britain wasn't going to be invaded, and there was less overall need for the Home Guard. Gentlemen Rankers : Sergeant Wilson behaves very much like a cool, calm, collected, and softly spoken officer (in contrast to the order barking martinet that was Captain Mainwaring) in his WW2 Home Guard duties, however this was eventually explained as him actually having been an officer in the First World War. Getting Crap Past the Radar : Barely even trying. In the episode "The Four-and-a-Half Feathers", Jones describes his patrol in the Sudan encountering an elderly fakir (a sort of monk, pronounced "fa-keer"). Jones constantly refers to him as the "Old Fakir" (pronouncing it as "fak-er"). Say it out loud and wonder how that made it past the censors... And at least one episode title. "Round And Round Went The Great Big Wheel" is a quote from a really filthy song. The Ghost : Mainwaring's wife. Closest we get to seeing her is the large overhang she leaves in the bunk bed.

She is finally seen in the 2016 movie. The Guards Must Be Crazy : In the episode where the platoon are delegated to guard a captured German submarine crew, the platoon do pretty well on this score. It's Hodges who falls for the old sick prisoner trick and lets the Germans get the upper hand. Mind you, Mainwaring really should've left his revolver with Wilson or Jones before going over to help. Handcar Pursuit : The climax of "The Royal Train" involves Hodges on a handcar chasing a runaway train with the platoon aboard, so he can throw them the widget they need to stop the train. Then they throw the train into reverse, and it becomes Hodges on a handcar fleeing a runaway train instead. Hidden Depths : Captain Mainwaring knows how to play the bagpipes. (See Sexless Marriage for the reason why.) Leeroy Jenkins : Corporal Jones. Let's Get Dangerous!

: In a sense; while the platoon rarely saw anything in the form of a genuine military operation, every so often the viewer was reminded that behind the bumbling Mainwaring and his men were brave soldiers fully prepared to fight and die in the defense of their homes and country if it came down to it. And none braver than Mainwaring himself, who would be the last man out of a bombed building and once faced down a desperate German prisoner with an unloaded gun. (It turned out that the German's gun was unloaded too.) Typified by this exchange in an early episode when the elements of the platoon believe an invasion is underway and elect to stay and try and delay the German advance to give the regular army time to counter-attack. Captain Mainwaring: It'll probably be the end of us, but we're ready for that, aren't we, men? Private Frazer: Of course. The Movie (which RetConned most of the first episode) Ms. Fanservice : Miss King, a character in the first series, was intended to be this. She was then inexplicably written out , and hardly anyone remembers she was ever in the show. Later on, Mrs Pike would often take the role.

The Napoleon : Captain Mainwaring. Hodges eventually calls him "Napoleon" to irritate him. In one episode, he even literally dreams that he's Napoleon. No Longer with Us : Corporal Jones gets one regarding his mother: Pike: Why don't you have a word with Mr Jones' mother? [facetious, since Jones is elderly] Jones: [sadly] You leave my mother out of this. My mother's gone to another place. Pike: [quietly] Sorry, Mr Jones. Jones: Angmering. Narrative Profanity Filter : In "The Two-and-a-half Feathers" Jones speaks of serving under an incredibly profane sergeant but whenever the sergeant is shown swearing, all the actual curses are replaced with spitting noises. Not So Different : For all their class-conscious rivalry and dislike of each other, both Captain Mainwaring and Warden Hodges are rather pompous men who've let the sudden burst of power and authority they now have as a result of their wartime duties go to their heads a bit too quickly. That said, Mainwaring has a sense of personal integrity that Hodges is entirely devoid of. Mainwaring and Wilson also count.

Mainwaring is envious of Wilson's social position in life (upper class, gets on easily with others) while Wilson is envious of Mainwaring's professional position. (Manager of the bank and Leader of the home guard platoon) Not What It Looks Like : In one episode, Pike borrows a bank staff car to take Hodges's niece on a date to the cinema; but the car breaks down and it takes him all night to push the car back to Walmington-on-Sea. Hilarity Ensues the following day as he hopelessly tries to convince everyone that's all they were doing during the night ... Obsolete Mentor : Corporal Jones is a veteran of many wars but his love of bayonets is more often a hindrance than a help. Of Corsets Funny : In one episode, the various members of the Home Guard are desperately attempting to look younger to avoid being transferred to the ARP. Captain Mainwaring notices that Sergeant Wilson is standing straighter than usual and it is revealed that he is wearing a girdle (or, as he refers to it, a "gentleman's abdominal support"). Only Sane Man : Sergeant Wilson. Pike and Walker also have their moments.

Pantomime Animal : In "Operation Kilt", the platoon attempts to use a pantomime cow to sneak up on a highland regiment during a training exercise. Things do not according to plan when a bull takes an interest . Parachute in a Tree : "Time On My Hands" centres on the characters' efforts to pull down a German pilot whose parachute is caught on the town clock. Patriotic Fervor : Captain Mainwaring often naively harps on about the strengths of the allied forces, but quickly dismisses any positive remarks about the Nazis with "We'll have none of that talk here!" Our side displayed "British initiative!", while similar behaviour by the enemy was derided as a "typical underhand Nazi trick!" Perilous Old Fool : Corporal Jones, a veteran of three wars and probably a bigger danger to his allies than he ever could be to the enemy. Phony Veteran : Captain Mainwaring had a habit of exaggerating his military service in the Great War. Mainwaring: I served in France [quietly] during the whole of 1919. Wilson: I thought the war ended in 1918. Mainwaring: Someone had to clean up the mess!

Real Song Theme Tune : Averted, though the Dad's Army theme is often mistaken for a real wartime song. It was actually written by Jimmy Perry and performed by Bud Flanagan, who was a popular singer in the 1930s and 1940s. Red Baron : Jones was known as "the Mad Bomber" in WWI due to his interesting grenade drills. Retcon : The Movie retcons most of the first episode. Mrs Fox's first name is initially given as Marcia, but becomes Mildred in the final episode of the show. Square is first introduced as "Corporal-Colonel Square" and later becomes Captain. Handwaved by the show's producers stating that he had simply received a promotion ("Corporal-Colonel" being an amalgamation of his current rank in the Home Guard and his previous one while in the military, Truth in Television as this was done in real life with some veterans). In the first episode, Fraser runs a philatelist's shop. In later episodes, he's an undertaker. Several minor characters' names were retconned over the course of the show. Mrs.

Yeatman's name is initially given as Anthea, then Tracy and finally Beryl. Mr. Blewitt's name changed from Norman to Sidney, while Walker's recurring girlfriend was named Edith Parish in her first appearance but became Shirley in subsequent episodes. Retired Badass : He may not seem it, but Jones more than qualifies for this trope after spending 30 years in the British Army and serving with distinction in Sudan and WWI. Rising Water, Rising Tension : In "Asleep in the Deep", a bomb falls on the local pumping station as Godfrey and Walker are patrolling there, trapping them. When the platoon try to free them, they get stuck with them, and when a pipe bursts the room rapidly begins filling with water. The Rival : Hodges. Captain Square occasionally fills this role as well. Runaway Train : In one episode, the unit had to move a train out the way of an incoming one after the drivers got drunk, but ended up with a runaway train after it turned out they'd left the brake wheel back at the station and that the line was all downhill from that point.

Cue Captain Mainwaring climbing over the train roof, the warden, vicar and verger on a handcart trying to bring them the brake wheel and then them having to go damn fast the other way after the platoon accidentally put the train into reverse. The Runt at the End : Corporal Jones is always a beat behind the rest of the platoon when drilling. Sea Mine : In "Menace from the Deep" the Walmington-on-Sea platoon is stranded on the Walmington-on-Sea Pier. The situation becomes worse when a sea mine drifts underneath the pier. When Hodges falls of the pier, the magnetic mine is attracted to his steel helmet. Secret Weapon : The platoon are called on to stop a radio-controlled mobile bomb (based on the real-life Panjandrum ) that's rampaging around the countryside. Screw the War, We're Partying! : Pvt. Walker - skirt-chaser and black marketeer who has avoided the draft due to a 'corned beef allergy'. Justified somewhat: a Missing Episode did actually have Walker drafted, and discharged on medical grounds because of the allergy - corned beef was the only rations available!

Second Face Smoke : In the episode where the platoon are delegated to guard a captured German submarine crew, the German officer is smoking a cigarette and blows smoke in Mainwaring's face. Mainwaring waits until he's out of sight to cough and splutter. Separate Scene Storytelling : Technically speaking, the entire show. The very first episode begins in 1968, with Mainwaring addressing his men as part of the "I'm Backing Britain" campaign. The entire show is his fond recollection of those halcyon days... Sexless Marriage : Explains why Mainwaring learned the bagpipes: Mainwaring: I spent my honeymoon in a remote village in Scotland called InverGeechie. It was a wild and lonely place. The nights were long... and there was nothing else to do. Sharp-Dressed Man : When out of uniform Walker wore incredibly well tailored suits. Shoo Out the New Guy : Private Cheeseman. Also counts as a Replacement Scrappy . Happened in-universe when the Vicar joined the platoon and proved such an annoying burden that everyone made sure he left again soon after.

A Simple Plan : The Walmington-On-Sea platoon could produce a chaotic outcome to the simplest of tasks. The So-Called Coward : Private Godfrey, as detailed above. Also Corporal Jones in "The Two and A Half Feathers". A veteran of the Sudan War claims that he was saved by a native tribeman after Jones left him out in the desert to die. The tribesman was Jones dressed in Arab robes; he remained silent about his role in order to cover up a scandalous affair the veteran was involved in. Soldiers at the Rear : Private Joe Walker's "allergy" to corned beef. Sound to Screen Adaptation : Reversed: there is an original cast radio series based on the TV episodes. Spin-Off : The aforementioned radio series, It Sticks Out Half a Mile, broadcast between 1983-84. It centred around Hodges, Pike and Wilson teaming up to renovate the abandoned pier in a nearby seaside town, and was later turned into an original TV series called High and Dry The pilot featured Mainwaring and Wilson. Arthur Lowe died soon afterwards hence Mainwaring being replaced with Hodges.

Then, when John Le Mesurier passed away after recording one series, it was decided to just put it to rest (as a direct Dad's Army Spin-Off , at least). Spotting the Thread : The U-Boat crew's plan to take the platoon prisoner via a grenade down Jone's trousers is foiled when the Colonel notices that Jones isn't wearing his full uniform, out of charcter for Mainwarring to let anyone in his platoon do so and out of character for Jones himself. And then he literally spots the thread of string connecting the grenade pin to the U-Boat captain's hand. Spreading Disaster Map Graphic : The Animated Credits Opening shows Swastika-emblazoned arrows sweeping over western Europe (including one that gets lost for a bit), while the lone Union Jack arrow retreats back to its start point, then sticks its tail out further and pulls back across the Channel. All set to a jaunty tune about how Britain's not beaten yet . Squirrels in My Pants : In "Room at the Bottom", Corporal Jones gets ants in his pants and, while trying to remove them, accidentally signals the platoon to advance into an ambush.

Strapped to a Bomb : In a classic episode, the over-age Walmington platoon are tasked with guarding the captured crew of a U-boat. The Germans try to escape and take Corporal Jones as a hostage, rigging a hand-grenade down his trousers that will explode if the Captain's wishes are not complied with. Fortunately, Sergeant Wilson has seen to it that there is no detonator in the grenade... but only he knows this... Suicide as Comedy : Subverted. After Wilson hands Mainwaring the letter telling him he is no longer in charge of the platoon Wilson steps outside as it is read. A few seconds later a gunshot is heard to which Wilson blurts "My God, he's shot himself!" Fortunately it was an accident with the rifles outside and Mainwaring is instead having a more traditional Heroic B.S.O.D. . Surrounded by Idiots Mainwaring: You know, Wilson, over the years that I've come to know the members of the platoon, I've become quite fond of them. But I can't help feeling, sometimes, that I'm in charge of a bunch of idiots.

That Came Out Wrong : Captain Mainwaring manages to get a block of rationed cheese as a surprise for his wife. However, when he telephones her with the good news, things don't quite go as he planned. Mainwaring: Yes, Elizabeth. I think I may have a little surprise for you tonight ... One episode revolved around the platoon trying to find out whether a parachute that had landed in a nearby field was a British parachute (which are white) or Nazi parachute (which are cream.) Unfortunately, Walker had found it and had it made up into women's lingerie to sell. Hilarity Ensues as Mainwaring visits each of Walker's customers and has to ask to see their underwear ... Wholesome Crossdresser : Jones: Please let me be a nun Mr Mainwaring. Wrong Genre Savvy : Frazer, with his Doomy Dooms of Doom pronouncements, appears to think he's a character in a horror. Luckily for him, he's a sitcom character. You Didn't Ask : In one episode where the platoon helps to gather in a harvest, Mainwaring asks Sponge, a farmer, to show the others how to operate a threshing machine.

Sponge admits that he is a sheep farmer and doesn't know how the machine works. When Mainwaring demands to know why Sponge never said so before, Sponge points out that Mainwaring never asked him ... You Look Familiar : Michael Knowles played various small roles in different episodes. John Ringham played Private Bracewell in the first episode and returned later as Captain Bailey for several episodes. "And Captain Bailey has two Military Policemuuuuurn with him!" :: Indexes :: Dad's Army (TV Series 1968–1977) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error During WW2, in a fictional British seaside town, a ragtag group of Home Guard local defense volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion. Creator: After a surreal lecture on telling allied parachutists from German ones, the platoon is ordered to pick up a stranded U-boot's crew. Wilson feels live hand-grenades are too dangerous for his hot-head... 8.9 At long last Corporal Jones is marrying Marcia Fox.

He asks Mainwaring's permission as his commanding officer, which involves the captain being caught over the phone by his wife having coffee with ... 8.8 It is revealed that Private Godfrey was a Conscientious Objector in the First World war, leading Mainwaring and some of the platoon to brand him as a coward. However, during an exercise in which ... 8.6 a list of 33 titles created 13 Oct 2012 a list of 34 titles created 26 Jul 2013 a list of 35 titles created 28 Jan 2014 a list of 21 titles created 30 Nov 2014 a list of 33 titles created 26 Dec 2015 Search for " Dad's Army " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: Dad's Army (1968–1977) 8.1/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 1 win & 9 nominations.

See more awards » Photos The misadventures of a ragtag group of elderly Home Guard local defense volunteers at the onset of WW2. Director: Norman Cohen The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system. Stars: Ronnie Barker, Brian Wilde, Fulton Mackay The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deal with a visiting female journalist and a German spy as World War II draws to its conclusion. Director: Oliver Parker Arkwright is a tight-fisted shop owner in Doncaster, who will stop at nothing to keep his profits high and his overheads low, even if this means harassing his nephew Granville. Arkwright's ... See full summary » Stars: Ronnie Barker, David Jason, Lynda Baron Long running BBC comedy show consisting of sketches and humourous musical routines involving the large Ronnie Barker and the small Ronnie Corbett. Most sketches involved both men, but ...

See full summary » Stars: Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, The Fred Tomlinson Singers Classic 1960s British comedy series about a middle aged man and his elderly father who run an unsuccessful 'rag and bone' business (collecting and selling junk). Harold (the son) wants to ... See full summary » Stars: Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H. Corbett, Frank Thornton Accident-prone Frank Spencer fails to navigate the simplest tasks of daily life, while also trying to look after his wife and baby. Stars: Michael Crawford, Michele Dotrice, Jessica Forte Victor Meldrew is a retiree who attracts bad luck. If he's not driving his long suffering wife Margeret crazy with his constant moaning, he's fighting with neighbors. Stars: Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Doreen Mantle This prison comedy is based on the popular British television series of the same name. Long time Slade prison inmate Fletcher is ordered by Grouty to arrange a football match between the ... See full summary » Director: Dick Clement Popular sitcom set in a seedy bedsit lorded over by the mean, vain, boastful, cowardly landlord Rigsby.

In each episode, his conceits are debunked by his long suffering tenants. Stars: Leonard Rossiter, Don Warrington, Frances de la Tour The comic adventures of a group of misfits who form an extremely bad concert party touring the hot and steamy jungles of Burma entertaining the troops during World War II. Stars: Windsor Davies, Melvyn Hayes, Donald Hewlett In 1967 actor Jimmy Perry shows his friend David Croft the script of a sitcom he has written based on his time in the Home Guard, entitled 'Fighting Tigers'. Head of BBC TV comedy Michael ... See full summary » Director: Steve Bendelack Edit Storyline Popular BBC comedy series set in the fictional south coast seaside town of Walmington-On-Sea during World War 2. Alternating moments of gentle character comedy with broad slapstick, it recounts the misadventures of the local voluntary defence force (or 'Home Guard') consisting of men too old or 'unfit' for military service.

They are led by the pompous Mainwaring, manager of the local bank, and consist of the suave, mild-mannered Sergeant Wilson , Lance-Corporal Jones, the town's butcher and an old soldier prone to hysteria, cockney spiv Walker, dour Scots undertaker Frazer, gentle, elderly and incontinent Godfrey and dim-witted mummy's boy, Pike, whose mother is 'friendly' with Wilson. They are based in the Church hall where there is much friction between Mainwaring, the effeminate Vicar, his creeping Verger and ARP Warden Hodges (the grocer) who calls Mainwaring 'Napoleon' and strongly dislikes him. The 80 episodes (the last 68 made in colour) have been frequently repeated, many are ... Written by Allen Dace <a.w.dace@maff.gov.uk> 31 July 1968 (UK) See more » Also Known As: Daar komen de schutters See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia An episode is kept on standby by the BBC for use as an emergency backup program, to be broadcast if a major technical problem prevents normal programs being shown.

This came to light on June 20, 2000 when the BBC Six O'Clock News (1984) was interrupted by a power failure at the BBC, and an episode of Dad's Army was transmitted in its place. See more » Goofs Throughout the series LCPL Jones is the only member of the platoon to wear medal ribbons on his uniform. Frazer, Wilson, and Godfrey (and possibly others) all saw service in WWI and would have medals and ribbons, and would most likely have worn them proudly as well. See more » Quotes [They are telling off a cheeky young boy] Jones : Ere. I know him. He's a cheeky little monkey. He comes into my shop when it's full of persons and shouts out, "Sainsbury's." Pike : Yeah. And he runs into our bank and shouts out, "National Provincial." My favourite comedy series of all time 6 November 2002 | by BritishFilms1 WARNING: This review contains spoliers "Dad's Army" has got to be my favourite comedy series of all time.

It is about the adventures of a Home Guard platoon on the South Coast of England during World War II. Pompous bank manager Mr Mainwaring [Arthur Lowe] is Captain of the platoon. He is assited by his chief clerk Arthur Wilson [John Le Mesurier] who is the Home Guard sergeant.

The other main characters who formed the platoon were 70 year old devoted solidier Lance-Corporal Jack Jones [Clive Dunn] who fought in the Sudan under the command of General Kitchener during the 1880s, James Frazer [John Laurie], a doom-and-gloomy old Scotsman who runs an undertakers in Walmington-on-Sea [the town where the series is situated], who was formerly a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy [my favourite character], retired Menswear salesman Charles Godfrey [Arnold Ridley], the platoon's medical orderly who lived in a country cottage with his sisters [Dolly and Cissy], Cockney "spiv" Joe Walker [James Beck] who was usually seen with various lady friends and was well-known for being able to obtain rationed goods for people [if they paid him for them] and finally, Frank Pike [Ian Lavender], the youngest member of the platoon who was very much a "mummy's boy" and usually made a mess of things, Mainwaring was often heard to describe him as a "stupid boy".

Another regular character was the Chief Air Raid Warden, Mr Hodges [Bill Pertwee], who expressed a severe dislike for Mainwaring and his men, due to the fact that they often curtailed his plans. He referred to Mainwaring as "Napoleon" and the two soon developed an instant dislike for each other, doing more fighting among themselves rather than with the Germans [!]. There was also other regulars including Mrs Pike [Janet Davies], Pike's mother and Wilson's girlfriend, Wilson being Pike's Uncle Arthur. Mrs Fox [Pamela Cundell], a resident of the town who had a long-running relationship with Jones, before the two eventually married in the final episode and OAP Mr Blewitt [Harold Bennett] was also seen many times.

Many guest stars were also seen in the programme including Barbara Windsor ["EastEnders" as a theatre star], Nigel Hawthorne ["Yes Minister" as a man on a bike], Wendy Richard ["EastEnders" as Walker's girlfriend], Carmen Silvera ["Allo Allo" as Mainwaring's lady friend], Geoffrey Hughes ["Coronation Street" as a bridge controller], Phillip Madoc [a German Captain], Peter Butterworth ["Carry On" films as a printer] and Fulton MacKay ["Porridge" as a doctor]. This has to be the best British comedy series of all time and if it doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what will. 10 out of 10!

Question: What was the name of the character played by John Le Mesurier in Dad's Army
Answer: Sergeant Wilson